Week 5: Pre-Post

The "Birds in the City: A Field Sketchbook" intrigued me in the first place because when I began looking at it, I realize that I had assumed a "field sketch" implied that it was sketched in a field. That sounds silly, but you know how you have a preconceived idea about something no matter how silly it may really be. Anyways, So as I look through the field book, I wish that I could sketch with a pen and have such fabulous results. Now, I know the point of the piece is to just sketch. Start somewhere and observe and reflect through the tip of your pen, but I wish I had the same skill as the author clearly does. For instance, on page 84 (I'll mention this again later), the easy skill she demonstrates with perception and dimension are great.

The sketch on page 82, which shows many birds taking flight, or perhaps landing in a row of trees, is one sketch that captures the mind and lets it fly (pun intended). it is simple enough to let the mind fill in colors and ideas; is it winter and the trees are bare? Perhaps its summer and they are full of leaves. The birds, where are they going? Are they flying south? Maybe this is their year-round home.

Page 84 is a sketch of a peregrine on a rooftop and is the sketch that I mention demonstrates great skill and an easy hand at depth and perspective. She also portrays an almost quizzical expression on the peregrine. Which again, leaves the imagination open to so many paths. What is the peregrine's story? What is it doing on a rooftop in this urban setting? What does it think of all of the hustle you see on the streets below?

Her final sketch on page 86 with only the words "Birds and Their Urban Roosts," is an interesting way to end the piece. Like putting an introduction after the whole piece, but it fits. I love the simplicity, it really does seem to sum up the piece.